Updated: July 18, 2024
Give your garden a unique touch with these 20 creative garden container ideas, each repurposing items you might already have around the house. From vintage finds to everyday objects, discover how to transform discarded items into charming and functional planters.
Upcycled Planters for a Unique Garden
Repurposing everyday items into garden containers is a sustainable and budget-friendly way to add personality to your outdoor space. These unique planters offer a charming alternative to traditional pots, showcasing your creativity and reducing waste.
Rain Gutter Garden
alt text: A rain gutter repurposed as a planter box mounted on a fence, filled with colorful flowers.
Transform a spare rain gutter section into a unique vertical garden. Drill drainage holes and mount it on a fence or wall. A fresh coat of paint adds a personalized touch. This DIY planter is a great way to showcase trailing plants or create a compact herb garden. Consider this alongside other vertical gardening solutions like window boxes and wheelbarrow planters.
Cardboard Box Planters: Budget-Friendly Gardening
alt text: Several cardboard boxes used as planters for growing vegetables in a garden.
Save money on expensive planters by using cardboard boxes. Ensure adequate drainage and watering, just like traditional containers. Surprisingly durable, cardboard boxes can even be used for starting seeds. This eco-friendly option allows you to invest more in your plants and less in containers.
Hanging Shoe Organizer Herb Garden
alt text: A hanging shoe organizer repurposed as a vertical herb garden, with various herbs growing in each pocket.
Repurpose a hanging shoe organizer into a vertical herb garden. Each pocket provides a separate space for growing different herbs, maximizing space and keeping your herbs organized. This is a perfect solution for small spaces or patios, offering easy access to fresh herbs.
Farmhouse Sink Planter: Vintage Charm
alt text: An old farmhouse sink repurposed as a planter, filled with a variety of colorful flowers and plants.
Give an old farmhouse sink a new purpose as a charming garden planter. Its spacious basin provides ample room for a variety of plants, creating a focal point with rustic appeal. Salvage yards are great places to find unique sinks for this project.
Mobile Wagon Planter: Versatility in Your Garden
alt text: An old wagon with a custom-built wooden planter box on top, filled with flowers.
Convert an old wagon into a mobile planter by building a wooden planter box on top. This allows you to easily move your plants around the yard for optimal sunlight or to create different arrangements. It’s a functional and visually appealing addition to any garden.
Antique Chamber Pot Planter: A Touch of Whimsy
alt text: An antique chamber pot repurposed as a planter for a flowering plant.
Add a touch of whimsy to your garden with an antique chamber pot planter. Its unique shape and vintage charm make it a conversation starter, perfect for showcasing smaller plants or flowers.
Coffee Mug Herb Garden: Small Space Solution
alt text: A collection of coffee mugs repurposed as planters for small herbs, creating a miniature indoor garden.
Don’t discard old coffee mugs – turn them into miniature planters for an indoor herb garden. They’re the perfect size for individual herbs and add a touch of personality to your kitchen windowsill.
Umbrella Door Decor: A Welcoming Entrance
alt text: A closed umbrella filled with colorful flowers and hung on a front door as a decorative element.
Create a welcoming entrance by filling a closed umbrella with flowers and hanging it on your front door. This unique and colorful decoration adds instant curb appeal.
Recycled Tire Hanging Planter: A Classic Upcycle
alt text: An old tire painted and repurposed as a hanging planter, filled with vibrant flowers.
Give old tires new life by transforming them into hanging planters. Paint them in bright colors and plant your favorite flowers for a vibrant display. This classic upcycling project is a sustainable and eye-catching addition to your garden.
Woven Basket Planter: Rustic Elegance
alt text: A woven basket used as a planter for a variety of succulents.
Repurpose old woven baskets into rustic planters for succulents or other plants. Their natural texture adds a touch of elegance to both indoor and outdoor spaces. Consider using a liner to protect the basket and retain moisture.
Whiskey Barrel Fairy Garden: Enchanting Miniature World
alt text: A whiskey barrel transformed into a fairy garden, with miniature plants, houses, and figurines.
Transform a whiskey barrel into an enchanting fairy garden. Add miniature plants, houses, and figurines to create a whimsical focal point in your yard. This project is a fun way to engage your creativity and add a touch of magic to your garden.
Birdbath and Cinder Block Planters: Sturdy and Functional
alt text: An old birdbath and cinder blocks used as planters for various flowers and plants in a garden setting.
Use old birdbaths and concrete cinder blocks as sturdy and weather-resistant outdoor planters. Their weight and durability make them ideal for larger plants or creating tiered gardens.
Old Brick Raised Garden Bed: Classic and Durable
alt text: A raised garden bed built from old bricks, filled with soil and various plants.
Construct a classic and durable raised garden bed using old bricks. This provides excellent drainage and creates a defined space for your plants. The timeless look of brick complements any garden style.
Metal Antique Trellis Planter: Supporting Climbing Beauties
alt text: An old metal bench repurposed as a planter and trellis for climbing plants, with a potted plant on the seat and vines growing up the back.
Repurpose a metal antique, like an old bench or chair, as a support for climbing plants. Place a potted plant on the seat and allow vines to climb the back, creating a vertical garden with vintage charm.
Wooden Chair Planter: Elevated Beauty
alt text: An old wooden chair repurposed as a plant stand, with a potted flower placed on the seat.
Add height and visual interest to your garden by using an old wooden chair as a plant stand. A fresh coat of paint can enhance its appearance and complement your garden’s color scheme.
Washtub and Watering Can Planters: Rustic Charm
alt text: Old washtubs and watering cans repurposed as planters, filled with flowers and placed on a patio.
Create a rustic display by using old washtubs and watering cans as planters. Their weathered appearance adds character and complements a variety of garden styles.
Wheelbarrow Flower Bed: Mobile Garden
alt text: An old wheelbarrow repurposed as a mobile flower bed, filled with colorful flowers and placed in a garden.
Transform an old wheelbarrow into a charming and mobile flower bed. Fill it with your favorite flowers and easily move it around your yard to change the landscape or follow the sun.
Vintage Light Fixture Planter: Illuminating Your Garden
alt text: An old light fixture repurposed as a hanging planter, with small plants in place of lightbulbs and a birdhouse attached.
Repurpose a vintage light fixture into a unique hanging planter. Replace the lightbulbs with small planters and add a birdhouse for extra charm. This whimsical creation adds a touch of personality to any garden.
Stock Tank Garden: Maximum Growing Space
alt text: A large stock tank used as a raised garden bed, filled with soil and various vegetables.
Utilize a stock tank to create a substantial raised garden bed. Its large size provides ample space for growing vegetables or flowers, making it ideal for ambitious gardeners.
Bicycle Planter: Whimsical Focal Point
alt text: A vintage bicycle repurposed as a garden decoration, with baskets of flowers attached to the handlebars and rear rack.
Create a whimsical focal point in your garden with a vintage bicycle adorned with flower-filled baskets. This eye-catching display adds a touch of nostalgia and charm. Ensure the bike is securely positioned and the baskets are well-attached.